The Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) has raised alarm over a sharp rise in dog bite incidents across Sri Lanka, linking the trend to a rapidly growing stray dog population.
AWC Executive Committee Member Champa Fernando revealed that more than 250,000 dog bite cases are reported annually. Speaking at a media briefing in Kandy, she stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive, nationwide sterilization program to curb the issue.
Fellow Executive Committee Member Gihan Dinushka noted that Sri Lanka is estimated to have two to three million street dogs. Although no official census exists, he explained that the ratio of one dog for every eight people helps the organization design targeted sterilization strategies.
The AWC cautioned that while dog shelters are often proposed as a solution, policy missteps by previous administrations have worsened the situation. The rise in stray dogs has also contributed to more road accidents, especially involving motorcyclists and three-wheeler drivers, alongside increased dog bite incidents and rabies transmission.
The organization urged the government to take immediate, expert-led action and stressed its willingness to provide technical assistance to support effective, humane population control measures.
